Request Line: Angels and Demons

INT. RECORDING STUDIO – DAY

An aging man in a Mets jersey sits behind the microphone, peering down at a script.

DAVE JOUSS: [in a silky smooth, radio-friendly voice]…and after a single bite of the rich ground beef, succulent breadcrumbs, and a hint of parmesan cheese, you’ll agree that Rosina’s meatballs are a taste of Italy brought right to your door.  Now available in the frozen foods section of your local grocery store.  [looks up from the script]

DJ 3000: …AND IT’S A WRAP.

DAVE JOUSS: [in his normal voice] We’re done?

DJ 3000: WE SURE ARE.

DAVE JOUSS: You only need the one take?

DJ 3000: AFFIRMATIVE.  THAT WAS PERFECT.  I GUESS THEY WEREN’T KIDDING ABOUT YOU BEING THE BEST MEATBALL PITCHMAN IN HISTORY.

DAVE JOUSS: It was supposed to be pitcher.

DJ 3000: APPARENTLY IT TRANSLATES BOTH WAYS.

DAVE JOUSS: I can’t deny that it’s fun having this voice for a while, though.

DJ 3000: SMOKE ‘EM WHILE YOU GOT ‘EM, I ALWAYS SAY.  DID YOU GET A DATE SET FOR ARBITRATION YET?

DAVE JOUSS: No, they have a “status conference” in three months.

DJ 3000: THESE THINGS TAKE FOREVER.  AT LEAST YOU HAVE A SOLID CASE TO UNWIND THE DEAL.

DAVE JOUSS: It’s going to eat up a year of my life.

DJ 3000: [singing] ♫…AND THEN THERE’S ALL THAT WEIGHT TO BE LOST…♫

DAVE JOUSS: [looks down at midsection] Hey!

DJ 3000: I WAS QUOTING PAUL SIMON.

DAVE JOUSS: Oh, right, “Crazy Love Vol. II”.

DJ 3000: SPEAKING OF SONGS, YOU READY TO DO THE REQUEST LINE INTRO?

DAVE JOUSS: Sure thing. [voice changes to silky smooth radio-friendly version] Greeting, ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host Dave Jouss and I’m delighted to welcome you to yet another edition of Request Line!  Today we’ll be covering a topic that is near and dear to the heart of a young soldier I ate in hopes of getting out of a certain deal I struck: Angels and Demons.  We’re looking for songs about celestial beings and their counterparts from the netherworld.  I’ll get us started with one from the grandfather of the genre, the progenitor of the 27 club, the immortal (though maybe he’s not so happy about that part considering where he’s spending his time these days) master of the Delta Blues, Robert Johnson.